You are here

Oahu beaches smoking ban proposal moves forward

Oahu beaches smoking ban proposal moves forward

HONOLULU (AP) — A proposal to ban smoking on Oahu’s most popular beach parks is moving forward.

A Honolulu city council committee voted 4-1 Tuesday to advance a measure that would ban lighting up at Kapiolani Park and its surrounding areas, Kuhio Beach Park, Duke Kahanamoku Beach Park, the beach portion of Ala Moana Park and Sandy Beach Park.

The full council will hold a public hearing on the measure on Dec. 5, The Star Advertiser reported (http://bit.ly/RjiBWD).

Bill sponsor Councilman Stanley Chang said he introduced the measure in response to complaints from constituents about cigarette litter and secondhand smoke.

Resident Lancelot Haili Lincoln said a beach smoking ban would violate the civil and human rights of smokers.

“These beaches are for everybody, not just nonsmokers,”?Lincoln said.

But longtime Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve manager Alan Hong told committee members that from 2003, when a smoking ban was instituted at the bay, until his retirement last year, he received only two complaints from tourists unhappy with the rule. During the same period, he received numerous compliments from those who appreciate a smoke-free beach, he said.

Approving the ban “would send a strong signal and help enhance Hawaii’s appeal as a tourist destination,”?Chang said.

Police Maj. Ron Bode, who heads the Waikiki patrol district, said the department?is taking no position on the bill at this time. Police officers would enforce the law and issue citations if such a ban were in place.

Lila Johnson, program manager of the state Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, said the National Poison Control Center receives 15 to 30 calls a year from Hawaii residents about children ingesting cigarettes or cigarette butts.

Members Carol Fukunaga and Breene Harimoto, who joined Chang and Garcia in advancing the measure Tuesday, said they would support an island-wide ban. The committee has five members.

Rules for posting comments

Comments posted below are from readers. In no way do they represent the view of Oahu Publications Inc. or this newspaper. This is a public forum.

Comments may be monitored for inappropriate content but the newspaper is under no obligation to do so. Comment posters are solely responsible under the Communications Decency Act for comments posted on this Web site. Oahu Publications Inc. is not liable for messages from third parties.

IP and email addresses of persons who post are not treated as confidential records and will be disclosed in response to valid legal process.

Do not post:

Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.

Obscene, explicit, or racist language.

Copyrighted materials of any sort without the express permission of the copyright holder.

Personal attacks, insults or threats.

The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.

Comments unrelated to the story.

If you believe that a commenter has not followed these guidelines, please click the FLAG icon below the comment.